The Simple Phrase That Guided My Career for 30 Years

In my first job as a Trainee Business Project Manager, my boss, Rob, had a sign on his wall. It was a simple, crumpled piece of A4 paper with a light bulb icon, and on it, a quote:

"Go as far as you can see, and when you get there, you will see further."

Rob never mentioned it, and we never discussed it. But as a young trainee, the phrase stuck with me. For nearly 30 years, it's been a touchstone throughout countless change projects, a practical and powerful career guide in moments of uncertainty.

A few weeks ago, I asked an AI to write a story about that phrase. It generated a lovely but sterile tale about a wise elder named Amara and a young villager named Kavi. While poetic, it lacked the real-world grit of the real story. The power of that phrase isn't in a fictional story, but in its ability to offer a simple, actionable philosophy for life and work.

The phrase is a masterclass in concise, rhythmic wisdom. It's a reminder that we don’t need to see the entire path to take the first step. When you're in the middle of a complex change project—whether it's at work or in life—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the unknown. This phrase cuts through that anxiety. It tells us to focus on the immediate next steps, to create a plan based on the information we have now, and to keep moving forward.

As you act on your current plan, new information and new perspectives will inevitably emerge, illuminating the next set of steps. It's an inspiring call to keep moving positively toward change, even when the future seems unclear.

Thank you, Rob Eldridge, for the simple sign on your wall. And thank you, Zig Ziglar, or whoever coined the phrase, for a timeless piece of wisdom.

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